Leverage the channel ecosystem to create GDPR offers

The benefits of teaming up to manage GDPR

Business relies on teamwork-bridging various perspectives to solve complex challenges. This is particularly critical as companies attempt to reach General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance with the fast-approaching deadline. Enterprise, medium, and even small organizations need help putting the right people, processes, and technology in place.

At Microsoft, we’re seeing an increasing number of partners who are choosing to work together on addressing the GDPR for their customers through a consortium approach. This allows partners to address customers’ needs, spanning guidance on regulatory compliance through technology expertise to implementation of specific remediation plans. As partners create strategic arrangements with their channel counterparts, they not only speed time-to-market, but also create a powerful value proposition for customers-a simplified approach to GDPR compliance.

One partner who has seen success with this model is Controle. By working with other technology service providers in their area, Controle has been able to create partnerships which leverage combined strengths across multiple services companies. As a result, the pair creates solutions for customers that are greater than the sum of its parts. Check out their story below.

“The GDPR is really opening up a lot of opportunities for us to partner with other companies to meet our customers’ needs. It’s not uncommon for me to have two or three meetings a week with other firms to discuss how we can jointly partner on a customer opportunity around GDPR.”

-Elizabeth Fogerty, VP Business Development, Controle

US-based Controle is focused on helping clients manage their electronic data by gaining end-to-end information governance. Utilizing their eDiscovery background, Controle has evolved their offerings in response to the GDPR by providing defensible processes for GDPR data subject access requests.

Controle sees GDPR compliance amounting to two qualifications: preventing data leaks from security breaches, and proactively handling data subject requests from customers. According to Elizabeth Fogerty, VP of Business Development, Controle’s strength is dealing with data subject requests. Handling security infrastructure to stop breaches however is something we feel can be best addressed by other partners. We see GDPR engagements with customers as an excellent opportunity to jointly own a solution so all aspects of GDPR compliance can be met.”

Controle takes an active, grass-roots approach to finding firms they can partner with to provide customers with a complete solution-from researching LinkedIn to networking by word of mouth. By leveraging eDiscovery partner relationships and optimizing their website, Controle has invested in ensuring both customers and partners can find them.

“We appreciate the value a multi-partner consortium can have for customers, especially when dealing with complex topics such as GDPR. Customers’ needs often span policy and process change in addition to technology investments. Partners who can collaborate to build comprehensive solutions are absolutely seeing a competitive advantage to winning larger services deals.”

If you’d like to be included in this list of approved Microsoft GDPR partners, please contact your local partner development manager. We’re always happy to welcome more security and compliance partners.